Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-07-22
JAY GOULD.
Estimate of His Strength and His Weak
ness and His Fortune.


ness and His Fortune.
Providence Journal.
There is no man in the country just ST
present who attracts more attention than
Jay Gould. The recent financisl dis
turbance, which was SO easily turned to
his own private advantage, hss called
forth comment from every one interested
in commerce, and the fact that his victim
st this luncture was q man who is almost
universally unpopular, has increased the
interest in the last deal. Besides, the
mans ways are so unfathonable; he sur
rounds himself with such an air of mys-
terry, and so little is known about MS
manner CT life, thst any story, no matter
how absurd, is readily believed about
him. There is much, however, in the
methods of Jay Gould that is worthy OF
attention, for ne is product Of his
time and of the peculiar condi-
tiOns now existing in this country.
He has amassed so many millions that
few more can never be appreciated by
him, and still he keeps on playing his
game with all the keenness of one who
had everything TO risk, although the
stakes can now make no difference. The
passion of gaining has now become 8 sec
ond nature. He sits at his table silent
and cool, while thousands make their
bets on the cards which are so plainly
marked to him who deals He never
takes the trouble to justify his business,
his contempt for those who stake their
money on his plsy i5 supreme, while be
never fails to rake in the last dOlisr they
have on the board. His industry is IN
firing and he spares no pains TO know
every detail OF the men who come forward
so constantly to try issues with him and
his system. AS 8 gambler in stocks he
is execrated all over the land; yet there
is another side TO mis- character which
has not been so often considered. He is q
wonderful organizer. He can build up as
we'll as destroy, and combined with mis-
cynicism toward individuals there is 8
curious faith in the future of the race.
He will risk millions in protecting prop
eTty that he controls and has faith IN,
snd he selects new investments with
6eenness which would be almost pro
phetic if it were not the result of the
most rigid investigation. From the early
days OF his history he never liked 10 take
chances and he never spared pains to be
thoroughly posted. When q man
like Jim Keene came to New
York fresh from his easy
tTiumps in San Francisco, with some
millions to back him, 1t seemed as if
there was an opponent worthy Of Gould's
best efforts, but Keene's overthrow was
not difficult task, although there was
time when Gould appeared inclined 20 let
the Californian go on his way rather than
really Wrestle with him. Not very many
have actually COPIED with him of late
years in long and broad way, his power
has been too great, and he has given
much more attention to properties than
TO men. He has well concealed his
mistakes and covered his failures and
never, that the public knows, taken any
one into his confidence. His private
life is free from scandals, he has none OF
the vanity which so often accompanies
marked ability, and he reads human
nature like en- open book.
That such man has power for FAY
reaching good or evil goes without sa7-
ing, and that he exercises it for both is
certain, 1t is difficult to estimate which
predominates. He does much evil in
Watering stocks, In selling at high figures
to COnfding buyers, and in buying at low
figures from holders be has frightened
oping great enterprises which could not
have reached their present proportions
without his organizing abilities. He may
claim that il others have done as he has,
they would never buy or sell things that
they did not know all about. II every
one had followed this advice there would
now be no railroads for him to wreck or
save. His connection with the Union
ID. ~; 4 aF,1 - h,
ayers who were mere putty in his hands
He nevertheless extended the system ad-
vantageOuSly to the future of the prop
erty. He has never been known to
undertake the impossible; strong road
like the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy,
for instance, has never been disturbed,
while weak roads ere his spoil.
Perhaps it is not difficult to predict the
probable future of such career; that he
will hold his wealth together during his
life time there is little DOUBT, or that
upon his death the work of disintegratIOn
will begin. This heaping up of money is
not very lofty aim for able men, and it is
probable that the danger to society has
been much over-estimated by many
writer's. The millionaire gets his board
and clothes and leaves every penny be-
hind him. If he merely sCrsped together
dollars that are Wrung from others he is
g parasite, while if he creates new enter
prises he is so far useful citizen. The
fnal reckoning is made with him and the
account closed. Thousands will breathe
easier when Gould is dead, and many
fine securities will pass into other hands. |
All his deXterity, cunning and ability will
leave no real impress on his felloW-men,